The effects of a high-intensity functional exercise group on clinical outcomes in hospitalised older adults: an assessor-blinded, randomised-controlled trial.
Academic Article

Overview

abstract

to investigate a high-intensity functional exercise (HIFE) group in hospitalised older adults.

Design

assessor-blinded, randomised-controlled trial.

Setting

sub-acute wards at a metropolitan rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

older adults ≥65 years (n = 468) able to stand with minimum assistance or less from a chair and follow instructions.

Intervention

‘group’ participants were offered a standing HIFE group three times a week and individual physiotherapy sessions twice a week. Control participants were offered daily individual physiotherapy sessions.

participants’ mean age was 84.3 (7.1) years and 61% were female. There was no difference between groups for the improvement in EMS from admission to discharge (effect size −0.07, 95% confidence interval: −0.26 to 0.11, P = 0.446) and no difference in discharge destination, P = 0.904. Therapists saved 31–205 min/week treating group participants compared with control participants.

Conclusion

the results suggest that a HIFE group programme combined with individual physiotherapy may improve mobility to a similar extent to individual physiotherapy alone in hospitalised older adults. Providing physiotherapy in a group setting resulted in increased therapist efficiency. A high-intensity exercise group with individual physiotherapy may be an effective and efficient method to provide care to older inpatients.